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Window smasher cops $700,000 payout

RAW VISION: British police officer Mike Baillon smashes a pensioner's car window in 2009. On Wednesday he was awarded compensation for leaving the force after a bullying campaign by colleagues over the incident.

A UK police officer branded a "laughing stock" for using a truncheon to smash a pensioner's car window was awarded more than £400,000 ($736,000) compensation from his former force on Wednesday.

Mike Baillon, 42, claimed he was forced out of his job due to a “bullying campaign” by colleagues in Gwent, Wales, who teased him and wrote comments on his locker at the police station after a YouTube video appeared of him battering the Range Rover of a 74-year-old driver.

The video of Mr Baillon wielding his truncheon became a YouTube sensation – with the tribunal being told it has been viewed online thousands of times.

Camera footage of former policeman Mike Baillon attacking the car of a pensioner who failed to stop his car after being caught speeding. Photo: Screen grab

The tribunal heard Mr Baillon walked out of his job after being ridiculed every day by his colleagues at the police station where he worked.

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He sued police chiefs for constructive dismissal after being relieved of carrying out front line duties.

The experienced officer claimed damages for allegedly being bullied by fellow officers.

Police officers attack the car of a pensioner after he failed to stop. Photo: Screen grab

He was on Wednesday awarded £429,434.64 for loss of pension had he stayed in the force until the end of his career.

Mr Baillon will also receive in the region of £10,000 for loss of earnings since leaving the force.

Former traffic officer Mr Baillon told the tribunal: "The ridicule from colleagues was getting to me – it was every single day.

Smashed windscreen Photo: Fairfax

"They thought I had done wrong and I was lucky to have got away with it. I just wanted my closure."

Mr Baillon was one of two police officers chasing disabled pensioner Robert Whatley as he drove along country roads without a seat belt near Usk, South Wales.

Elderly stroke victim Mr Whatley was pulled over in his black Range Rover – and expected the officers to gently knock on his window.

But instead Mr Baillon attacked his window with a baton 15 times while his colleague climbed onto the bonnet and kicked in the windscreen of the £60,000 car.

The two officers were later cleared of misconduct after an internal investigation but Mr Baillon was later removed from front line duties.

The tribunal in Cardiff heard Mr Baillon's colleagues often brought up the "Whatley incident".

After another incident where police forced an entry by smashing a door a colleague allegedly told him: "It wasn't a window."

Mr Baillon also told the tribunal that his locker at work was defaced over the "Whatley incident" and that he became a "laughing stock."

The experienced officer finally took sick leave for stress and wrote letters of complaint to the Gwent Police Authority.

Former police Supt James Baker explained to the tribunal that Mr Baillon was taken off front-line duties because his mental state could have impaired his ability to respond to high-speed chases.

At the settlement hearing at the employment tribunal hearing in Cardiff, his solicitor Nick Smith criticised the Gwent police force.

He said: "Mr Baillon was removed from a job he loved and it was a gross abuse of power by the police.

"What has made that worse is the disingenuous way the force has defended their actions. Their conduct has been reprehensible. It is a public disgrace."

Mr Baillon said later: "I would rather be driving police cars but I couldn't accept the treatment.

"Unfortunately it has taken so long to reach a settlement."

After leaving the force, Mr Baillon set up a company called Celtic Woodcraft making decorative wooden reindeers.

Mr Whatley won a £20,000 payout from the police over the damage caused to his Range Rover.

He was later ordered to pay £235 after being found guilty of speeding and failing to stop for police.